Sarah Michelle Gellar, Blake Lively speak out following death of Michelle Trachtenberg
After news of actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s death was made public, friends and former co-stars have shared stories of working with the late star, including Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Gellar starred opposite Trachtenberg on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The friends worked alongside each other on the series from 2000 to 2003.
On Instagram, Gellar shared photos of their time together throughout the years, including a quote from the show itself.
“Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you,” Gellar wrote alongside a series of broken heart emojis.
Police sources told ABC News that Trachtenberg was found dead Feb. 26 in her New York City apartment. Sources reported the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant.
She was 39 years old.
In addition to Gellar, actress Blake Lively who starred opposite of Trachtenberg in “Gossip Girl” also shared a statement.
Trachtenberg played Lively’s friend turned nemesis Georgina Sparks opposite of Lively’s Serena Van Der Woodsen.
Alongside a picture of herself and Trachtenberg on the set of “Gossip Girl,” Lively wrote, “This is the first day I met Michelle.”
“She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%,” Lively continued.
“She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
Lively continued, saying, Trachtenberg “always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details.”
“She was a kind person, through and through.”
“Time passes,” Lively wrote. “You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.”
“Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM.